The 2026 Major League Pickleball (MLP) playoffs are set to kick off this weekend at The Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach. Eight elite teams are competing for four coveted spots in the upcoming finals, which will be held in New York City later this month.
Key Storylines to Watch in Newport Beach
Professional pickleball player and MLP competitor Zoey Weil breaks down the four critical matchups and team dynamics that will define the quarterfinal weekend:
- Fives vs. Royals: Mixed Doubles Madness: The Palm Beach Royals face a difficult challenge against the Fives, whose lineup of Anna Leigh Waters and Jorja Johnson threatens to neutralize the Royals' strongest assets, Tina Pisnik and Sofia Sewing. Because the Fives are the higher seed, they hold the tactical advantage of reacting to the Royals' lineup choices, leaving observers to wonder if they will stick to the matchups from their recent Orlando victory or experiment with new combinations.
- Shock vs. Ranchers: The Ranchers' Consistency Crisis: Despite having two of the most talented men on tour, the Ranchers have struggled to secure marquee wins, while the Shock have defeated them three times this season. The outcome hinges on whether Lea Jansen can elevate her game and if the team can finally find success in the Dreambreaker format, where they have historically underperformed despite their individual skill levels.
- LA Mad Drops vs. Dallas Flash: The Ben Johns Factor: The Mad Drops have opted to face the Dallas Flash, a decision that hinges on the performance of Ben Johns. After a historically poor showing against JW Johnson and the Flash in San Diego—where Johns scored only four points—the series will likely be decided by whether Johns is motivated by revenge or if the red-hot Dallas squad, which hasn't lost a match since MLP New York, continues their dominant streak.
- Columbus Sliders vs. Brooklyn: Rested or Rusty?: Both teams enter the playoffs with questions regarding their form. The Sliders have been inactive for nearly a month, while Brooklyn faces uncertainty regarding Rachel Rohrabacher’s health; though she is attempting a return, her recent performance suggests she is not at 100%. If both teams are at full strength, the Sliders are considered slight favorites, provided they can leverage the offensive pressure of Tyra Black and Paris Todd against Brooklyn’s current rotation.
The quarterfinals will run from Friday through Sunday, determining which four teams will advance to the final stage of the 2026 season.
